Content deleted Content added
Defender70 (talk | contribs) |
m →top: HTTP to HTTPS for The Christian Science Monitor |
||
| (31 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Short description|Foiled terrorism plot}}
{{further|
{{Redirect|Newburgh plot|the plot against George Washington|Newburgh Conspiracy}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
Line 29 ⟶ 31:
}}
On May 20, 2009, [[Law enforcement in the United States|US law enforcement]] arrested four men in connection with a fake plot concocted by a [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) informant to shoot down military airplanes flying out of an [[Air National Guard]] base in [[Newburgh (town), New York|Newburgh, New York]], and blow up two [[synagogues]] in the [[Riverdale, Bronx|Riverdale]] community of [[the Bronx]] using weapons supplied by the FBI.<ref name="guardian1">{{cite news |author = Harris, Paul |title=Newburgh Four: poor, black, and jailed under FBI 'entrapment' tactics|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/dec/12/newburgh-four-fbi-entrapment-terror|work=[[The Guardian]] |date=December 12, 2011|access-date=March 24, 2012}}</ref><ref name="guardian2">{{cite news |author = Harris, Paul |title=The ex-FBI informant with a change of heart: 'There is no real hunt. It's fixed'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/20/fbi-informant|work=[[The Guardian]] |date=March 20, 2012|access-date=March 24, 2012}}</ref><ref name="csmonitor1">{{cite web|last=Peter |first=Tom A. |url=
The FBI's use of
==Background==
The attempted attack is cited as one of a series of plots and failed attacks on military installations in the United States, including the [[2005 Los Angeles bomb plot]], the [[2007 Fort Dix attack plot]], the [[2009 Little Rock recruiting office shooting]], and the [[September 11 attacks]].
Previous attacks in Riverdale include the [[1989 firebombing of the Riverdale Press|1989 firebombing of the ''Riverdale Press'']] during the [[The Satanic Verses controversy|controversy over ''The Satanic Verses'']] and the [[2000
==Suspects==
The terrorist suspects were four Muslim men; three are African-American U.S. citizens, and one is a Haitian immigrant.<ref name="accused">{{cite news|last = Baker| first = Al |author2= Javier C. Hernandez | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/nyregion/21arrests.html |title=4 Accused of Bombing Plot at Bronx Synagogues |work=The New York Times |date=May 20, 2009 |access-date=May 25, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120827134809/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/nyregion/21arrests.html| archivedate=August 27, 2012| url-status= live}}</ref> James Cromitie (born December 24, 1964) was first recruited by Shahed Hussain, an Albany hotel owner and FBI informant at the [[Masjid al-Ikhlas]] mosque in Newburgh, New York,<ref name="nydailynews1"/><ref name="accused"/> which he attended on only a few occasions. The FBI informant posed as a wealthy business man and enticed Cromitie with an offer of $250,000.<ref>Newburgh mosque leaders: We don't preach hate
By Alex Weisler · May 25, 2009 {{cite web|url=http://jta.org/news/article/2009/05/25/1005409/mosque-members-say-bombing-suspects-were-weak-people |title = Newburgh mosque leaders: We don't preach hate {{!}} JTA - Jewish & Israel News |access-date=2009-05-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106055713/http://jta.org/news/article/2009/05/25/1005409/mosque-members-say-bombing-suspects-were-weak-people |archivedate=January 6, 2010 }}</ref>
Line 68 ⟶ 70:
The men placed fake bombs wired to cell phones in three separate cars outside the [[Riverdale Temple]] and nearby [[Riverdale Jewish Center]], both in the [[Riverdale, Bronx|Riverdale]] community of Bronx. [[New York City Police Department]] Commissioner [[Raymond W. Kelly]] said one of the suspects placed explosives, while the other three suspects served as lookouts.<ref name="nyt" /><ref name="nydailynews1">{{cite news | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/05/20/2009-05-20_fbi_arrest_four_in_alleged_plot_to_car_bomb_bronx_synagogue.html | title=FBI arrest four in alleged plot to bomb Bronx synagogues, shoot down plane | work=Daily News | ___location=New York | date=May 21, 2009 | first1=Michael | last1=Daly | first2=Alison | last2=Gendar | first3=Helen | last3=Kennedy | url-status=dead | access-date=May 21, 2009 | archive-date=May 21, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521234811/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/05/20/2009-05-20_fbi_arrest_four_in_alleged_plot_to_car_bomb_bronx_synagogue.html }}</ref>
The men were returning to their vehicle and heading to attack aircraft at the [[Stewart Air National Guard Base]] in [[Newburgh, New York]], with the fake Stinger missiles when law enforcement stopped them.<ref name="nydailynews1" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6331894.ece |title=Four arrested over plot to blow up New York synagogue |work=The Times |___location=London |date= May 21, 2009|access-date=May 21, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The air base shares facilities with the civilian [[Stewart International Airport]].
As the men were returning to the vehicle, the signal was given for the arrest. An 18-wheel New York City Police Department vehicle blocked the end of the street. The FBI informer also served as the driver of the suspects' vehicle. Another armored vehicle arrived, and officers from the department's Emergency Service Unit smashed the blackened windows of the S.U.V., removed the men from the vehicle, and handcuffed them on the ground. None offered resistance.<ref name="disruption1">{{cite news|last=Chan |first=Sewell |url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/police-detail-disruption-of-terror-plot/ |title=Latest Updates in Terror Plot - City Room Blog |publisher=Cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com |date=September 17, 2008 |access-date=May 21, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090525234144/http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/police-detail-disruption-of-terror-plot/| archivedate= May 25, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>
Line 79 ⟶ 81:
All four men pleaded not guilty. In March 2010, defense lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the case on grounds of [[entrapment]]. Relying on materials provided by the government (including recordings and FBI agents' affidavits), the defense argued that the plot was proposed and closely directed by the FBI's informant, who "suggested the targets, paid for the defendants' groceries, bought a gun, provided the fake bombs and missile, assembled the explosive devices and acted as chauffeur".<ref name="fitgerald">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/19/AR2010031901779.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928043739/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/19/AR2010031901779.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 28, 2011|title=Defense says NY synagogue-bomb plot was feds' idea|last=Fitgerald|first=Jim|date=March 19, 2010|work=The Associated Press |access-date=March 31, 2010}}</ref>
In late August 2010, government informant Shahed Hussain testified, stating that ringleader James Cromitie "hated Jews and Jewish people and he hated the American people, American soldiers. He was full of hate on those subjects. He said he would kill the president 700 times because he's the [[Antichrist]]."<ref>{{cite news |title=Informant takes stand in NY temple plot case |author=Larry Neumeister |agency=Associated Press |date=August 27, 2010 |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hXaournxorG5EDGGyJA9X-K9Y3KwD9HS1D200 |access-date=August 29, 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> After a six-week trial, the four were convicted. The lawyers for the four have filed a motion for a new trial claiming that Hussain committed perjury during the trial. David Williams told the [[Village Voice]] that the four were not part of plot to hurt people but to swindle Hussain, and the incriminating statements were made to make Hussain believe the four were credible terrorists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2011-03-02/news/were-the-newburgh-4-really-out-to-blow-up-synagogues/|title=Were the Newburgh 4 Really Out to Blow Up Synagogues? A Defendant Finally Speaks Out.|first=Graham|last=Rayman|date=March 2, 2011|publisher=}}</ref>
On June 29, 2011, Cromitie, Onta Williams, and David Williams were each sentenced, for their part in the attempted attack, to 25 years in prison by Manhattan [[Federal Judge]] [[Colleen McMahon]]. The judge criticized not only the defendants, but also what she viewed as the government's overzealous handling of the investigation. Referring to Cromitie, she said, "The essence of what occurred here is that a government, understandably zealous to protect its citizens from terrorism, came upon a man both bigoted and suggestible, one who was incapable of committing an act of terrorism on his own. It created acts of terrorism out of his fantasies of bravado and bigotry, and then made those fantasies come true." She added, "The government did not have to infiltrate and foil some nefarious plot – there was no nefarious plot to foil." She said the defendants were "not political or religious martyrs," but "thugs for hire, pure and simple."
Each of the men apologized before the sentencing. Cromitie said, "I've never been a terrorist and I'll never be a terrorist. I'm very sorry I let myself get caught up in a sting like this" and added that he did not truly believe the anti-Semitic statements heard on the audiotapes at trial.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/06/29/2011-06-29_judge_gives_men_convicted_in_bronx_synagogue_bomb_plot_25_years_in_prison_but_la.html|title=Judge slams gov't in bomb plot case|website=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=June 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703082740/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/06/29/2011-06-29_judge_gives_men_convicted_in_bronx_synagogue_bomb_plot_25_years_in_prison_but_la.html|archive-date=July 3, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
On September 7, 2011, McMahon also sentenced Laguerre Payen to 25 years prison, but repeated her criticism of the government's handling of the investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/judge-slams-sting-in-bronx-synagogue-case-1.3152375|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418211849/https://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/judge-slams-sting-in-bronx-synagogue-case-1.3152375|archive-date=2019-04-18|url-status=dead|title=Judge slams sting in Bronx synagogue case|publisher=}}</ref>
In 2013, a federal appeals court, by a vote of two to one, upheld convictions that the three defendants were guilty as charged. Judge Newman, in rejecting the misconduct claims, stated that, "As with all sting operations, government creation of the opportunity to commit an offense, even to the point of supplying defendants with materials essential to commit crimes, does not exceed due process limits....[FBI] agents would have been derelict in their duties if they did not test how far Cromitie would go to carry out his desires. When a government agent encounters a Muslim who volunteers that he wants to 'do something to America' or die like a martyr, the agent is entitled to probe the attitudes of that person to learn whether his religious views have impelled him toward the violent brand of radical Islam that poses a dire threat to the United States."<ref name="auto"/>
==Imprisonment==
James Cromitie
Onta Williams
David Williams
Laguerre Payen
In July 2023, McMahon ordered the [[compassionate release]] of Onta Williams, David Williams and Payen, ruling that the FBI had unscrupulously used Hussain, whom McMahon described as "unsavory", to manipulate Cromitie into pressuring them to commit illegal acts. McMahon characterized the three men as "hapless, easily manipulated and penurious petty criminals" and "small time [[Confidence trick|grifter]]s" who only participated because Cromitie said he would pay them using money from Hussain.<ref name=2023release>{{cite news |last=McKinley |first=Jesse |date=July 27, 2023 |title=Judge Orders Release of Three of 'Newburgh Four,' Criticizing F.B.I. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/nyregion/newburgh-four-terrorism-fbi.html |work=[[The New York Times]]|___location=New York, NY}}</ref>
Line 102 ⟶ 104:
[[Michael Bloomberg]], the mayor of New York City, praised the [[New York City Police Department]]. Other local politicians also praised law enforcement and expressed relief.<ref name="nyt" /> New York Governor [[David Paterson]] said the plot illustrated the constant terrorist threat New York faces.<ref name="terrorist1" /> On May 30, 2009, New York Governor [[David Paterson]] announced he would give the [[Riverdale Jewish Center]] and the [[Riverdale Temple|Riverdale Reform Temple]] $25,000 each to improve their security. The money will come from the [[Department of Homeland Security]] (DHS) and will primarily involve the installation of alarms and surveillance equipment.<ref>[http://jta.org/news/article/2009/06/02/1005549/paterson-gives-25k-each-to-synaguges-that-were-targeted-in-ny-terror-plot Targeted Bronx synagogues to get security funds] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510001122/http://www.jta.org/news/article/2009/06/02/1005549/paterson-gives-25k-each-to-synaguges-that-were-targeted-in-ny-terror-plot |date=May 10, 2012 }}, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), June 2, 2009.</ref>
An award-winning 2014 [[HBO]] documentary about the case, ''[[The Newburgh Sting]]'', showed that the attack plans and materials were all supplied by the FBI informant who coaxed the accused into participating by offering incentives including $250,000, described as a clear case of entrapment. The arrest was described
A man believed to be the same Shahed Hussain subsequently founded and operated the limousine company implicated in the 2018 [[Schoharie limousine crash]] in upstate New York, which killed 18 aboard the vehicle and two bystanders. However, Hussain had left the United States when the crash occurred, and U.S. investigators were unable to locate, question, or positively tie him to the accident.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McKinley|first1=Jesse|last2=Ferré-Sadurní|first2=Luis|last3=McGeehan|first3=Patrick|title=Owner in Limo Crash Had Shoddy Record and Shady Dealings|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/08/nyregion/prestige-limousine-crash-schoharie.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 8, 2018|access-date=June 30, 2022}}</ref> The crash was attributed to slipshod vehicle maintenance by Hussain's company and lax oversight by New York state regulators. In a 2021 [[plea bargain]], Shahed's son Nauman Hussain—who managed day-to-day operations at the company—pleaded guilty to 20 counts of [[criminally negligent homicide]] for his role in the crash,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Nauman-Hussain-pleads-guilty-faces-no-prison-16430370.php |title=Nauman Hussain pleads guilty, faces no prison time in Schoharie crash |last=Rulison |first=Larry |newspaper=[[Albany Times-Union]]|date=September 2, 2021|access-date=June 29, 2022}}</ref> and was sentenced to five to fifteen years in state prison in 2023.<ref name=2023release/>
Line 108 ⟶ 110:
In 2022, [[U.S. Representative]]s [[Elise Stefanik]] and [[Paul Tonko]] called on the FBI to reveal whether it had any knowledge of Shahed Hussain's activities with the limousine company before the crash. At an April 2022 hearing of the [[House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|House Intelligence Committee]], Stefanik questioned FBI director [[Christopher A. Wray]] about whether Hussain's history as an informant may have led the bureau to protect him from consequences for the limousine company's extensive history of regulatory violations, but Wray refused to answer directly, citing confidentiality concerns. In August, Stefanik told ''[[Fox News]]'' that she had not received any response from the bureau, and a spokeswoman for Tonko stated likewise when asked by the ''[[Albany Times Union]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rulison|first=Larry|title=Stefanik continues to slam FBI over Schoharie limo crash case|url=https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Stefanik-continues-to-slam-FBI-over-Schoharie-17392078.php|newspaper=[[Albany Times Union]]|date=August 23, 2022|access-date=August 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=Stefanik Demands Answers from FBI Director Wray on Schoharie County Limo Crash|url=https://stefanik.house.gov/2022/3/stefanik-demands-answers-from-fbi-director-wray-on-schoharie-county-limo-crash|___location=[[Washington, DC]]|publisher=Rep. [[Elise Stefanik]]|date=April 1, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref>
On July 27, 2023, a federal judge in the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York|Southern District of New York]] granted a motion by 3 of the 4 defendants for compassionate release. ''[[The New York Times]]'' was unable to locate Shahed Hussain for comment, saying he was believed to be in Pakistan.<ref name="2023release" /> On January 19, 2024, McMahon ordered the compassionate release of Cromitie, the last defendant still in prison, calling his alleged leadership "inconceivable" and calling Hussain "very unpleasant" and a "villain."<ref name=ap-2024>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-20 |title=Judge orders release of 'Newburgh Four' defendant and blasts FBI's role in terror sting |url=https://apnews.com/article/newburgh-four-terrorism-sting-fbi-compassionate-release-cromitie-40f7e967468de02b4b7ec2d331b0511e |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
==See also==
Line 134 ⟶ 136:
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bronx terrorism plot}}
[[Category:
[[Category:Failed terrorist attempts in New York City]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in the United States in 2009|New York City bomb plot, 2009]]
[[Category:21st-century attacks on
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Islam and antisemitism]]
Line 143 ⟶ 145:
[[Category:Riverdale, Bronx]]
[[Category:Newburgh, New York]]
[[Category:May 2009
[[Category:2000s in the Bronx]]
[[Category:2009 in New York City]]
| |||